Discover the reasons for discovery

28 U.S.C. § 1782 allows foreign parties to petition U.S. federal courts for assistance with discovery. When a district court rules on such an application, the Fifth Circuit expects an explanatoin:

… the district court’s order denying Paramo’s motion to quash is plainly deficient because it does not meaningfully engage with any of part of the § 1782 inquiry. Indeed, it does not engage at all beyond a barebones reference to “the Motion, the Response, the record and the applicable law.” And the Banorte Parties’ contention that the ruling is salvageable because “the district court referenced and analyzed the relevant factors” in its initial order granting § 1782 assistance is unavailing because, even there, the court did no more than recite the applicable factors. Had the court analyzed the factors, even summarily, either in the instant order denying Paramo’s motion or by reaffirming substantive analysis articulated in granting the initial § 1782 petition, this would be a different case.

Banco Mercantil de Norte, S.A. v. Paramo, No. 24-20007 (Aug. 28, 2024).